Apogee Converters and Preamps in a Truly Portable Interface!

Record music on the go with the sleek Apogee Duet, a 2-in/4-out USB audio interface designed to work with iOS and Mac platforms. The versatile Duet combines an audio interface, MIDI interface, and headphone amp, offering you an all-in-one system for creating high-quality recordings anywhere your iPod touch, iPhone, iPad, or Mac takes you. With legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, defeatable Apogee soft-limiting, and two microphone preamps with up to 75 dB of clean gain, the Duet is an excellent portable audio interface for capturing pristine audio anywhere.

Apogee give you a guided tour of the Duet:

Sleek Desktop Design with Breakout Cable

The Duet interface's streamlined design includes a breakout cable with two combination XLR-1/4" input connectors for plugging in microphones, keyboards, guitars -- or even your external mic press, compressors, or EQ hardware. Four analog outputs are provided: two 1/4-inch balanced outputs for connecting the Duet to speakers or outboard gear, and a separate, independently controlled 1/4-inch stereo headphone output.

Defeatable Soft Limit

The Duet's two microphone preamps and 192 kHz/24-bit analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog (AD/DA) converters enable you to capture any sound at the ideal level and get pristine recordings. Apogee's famous Soft Limit limiter, which can be enabled in Maestro, offers protection from digital clipping by rounding off transient peaks before they hit the A/D converters.

Two Clean Mic Preamps

The Duet's audio interface's mic preamps feature seamless, click-free transitions as the gain increases and decreases throughout its wide 75 dB range. Just dial in the level you want, either with the controller knob or from within software, and expect to get low noise and articulate, smooth detail. With tons of clean gain and selectable phase-invert and +48V phantom power, the two mic pres can accomodate just about any dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones.

One Knob to Rule Them All

Functionality aside, the Apogee Duet just looks cool, for an audio interface. Made of lightweight aluminum, the unit sports one large controller knob that lets you toggle through all the inputs and outputs. A high-resolution OLED screen provides visual status of the ins and outs. On either side of the encoder knob are two configurable touch pads, which give you instant access to output functions such as Mute Outputs, Dim Outputs, Sum to Mono, or Toggle Headphone Source.

Manage All Audio and MIDI with the Duet and Maestro

Seamless integration with apps, virtual instruments, DAWs, and controller hardware? Check. With the Apogee Duet, Apple users get the best of both worlds: professional performance for iPad, and low-latency USB 2.0 performance for Mac. While using the Duet with your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, you can connect and power a Core MIDI-compatible keyboard, synth, or DJ controller, thanks to the unit's single USB/MIDI connection. MIDI I/O means you won't need a separate MIDI interface to get your work done.

The included Apogee Maestro software is the Duet user's best friend, as it provides quick access to all device and system settings via a simple, single window interface. With Maestro, you can select your input type, enable Soft Limit on mic and instrument inputs, and use the mixer for low-latency monitoring. When you're on your iPad or other iOS device, use the free Maestro app, capable of all the same things as the Mac software.

If you have additional warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer at 310-584-9394

Product Description

Apogee Duet is an award-winning audio interface, headphone amp and MIDI interface making it easy to create professional recordings anywhere on your iPod touch, iPhone, iPad or Mac. With Apogee's legendary digital audio conversion and world-class mic preamps, Duet is the best way to capture your music with incredible dimension and detail.

The Duet for iPad and Mac features special circuitry designed to deliver professional performance for iPad use along with low latency USB 2.0 performance for Mac. And with the addition of MIDI I/O you can connect and power a Core MID compatible keyboard/controller while using Duet with your iPad or iOS device.

Legendary Sound Quality

Why Apogee Duet is the best choice for your studio
Apogee is an award-winning industry leader in digital recording technology with over 25 years of experience. Preferred by recording pros around the world, Apogee products like Duet, Ensemble and Symphony I/O have been instrumental in creating countless Grammy and Oscar winning recordings and have set the industry standard in professional recording for over two decades. Duet is built solidly on this reputation.

A difference you will hear.
From the mic preamps to the AD/DA converters and the clocking, Duet is best-in-class and cutting-edge Apogee technology. With components carefully selected in critical listening tests and a highly efficient circuit design, Duet was built by Apogee engineers to make a difference you can hear.

Smooth, detailed world-class mic preamps
Much like the AD/DA converters, Duet's mic preamps feature components and offer seamless click-free transitions as the gain increases and decreases throughout the incredible range of 0-75dB. This unprecedented feature allows you to dial in the perfect level, either with the controller knob or from within software, while delivering ultra-low noise and smooth, crisp detail. Duet's mic pres are suitable for all dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones, allowing you to capture any sound without compromise.

Soft Limit for protection from digital overs
An Apogee technology first introduced in 1992 on Apogee's AD-500 converter, Soft Limit can be heard on countless platinum selling records around the world. Once a technology exclusively reserved for Apogee's most advanced audio converters, Soft Limit is included in Duet and can be enabled in Apogee Maestro software.

This superior analog design prevents the digital clipping that causes distortion by instantaneously rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analog-to-digital converter. Soft Limit allows several more decibels of apparent level to be recorded while subtly providing an analog-like warmth to the sound.

Music Creation on the iPad

iPad puts you in touch with your creativity
Interacting with iPad to make music is like playing an instrument. In fact, some apps like Apple's GarageBand turn your iPad into a guitar or virtual instrument. Whether you are moving faders on a mixer, adjusting software parameters, or editing a waveform, iPad's multi-touch interface is a more hands on environment and superior to mouse clicks or track pad swipes.

There's a music app for everything
There are hundreds of music apps for iOS and iPad. With multi-track recording DAWs like GarageBand and Auria, synths and drum machines like Animoog and DM1, utilities and guitar effects like Audiobus and JamUp Pro, the music creation offering for iPad is vast and varied. And most apps are more affordable than their Mac based counterparts.

Setting up your studio has never been easier
iPad makes everything easier with a simplified user interface and plug and play connectivity for accessories like Apogee audio interfaces. You'll be amazed by how simple it is to set up your studio.

Share your music
Sharing functionality is built-in to most apps, making it easier then ever to move files and collaborate on different devices including iPad to Mac.

Pro I/O Meets iOS

Apogee. The first to make professional recording on iPad a reality.
Apogee pioneered studio-quality recording on iPad with JAM, the first digital guitar input and MiC the first professional digital microphone for iPad. JAM was featured in Apple's iPad 2, GarageBand launch video. Now with ONE, Duet and Quartet, Apogee is the first to introduce professional multi-track recording interfaces to the world of iPad and iOS. These products complete this amazing platform by offering musicians, producers and engineers professional tools for music recording, production and listening.

Superior sound quality
For almost 30 years, Apogee has been setting the standard in digital audio recording technology with award-winning products.

Maestro control software for iOS
Apogee ONE, Duet and Quartet are the first audio interfaces to feature software control made for iPad and iOS devices. Apogee's Maestro lets you access all hardware parameters and monitor with a low latency mixer.

Direct digital connection to iPad
Apogee ONE, Duet and Quartet for iPad and Mac feature special circuitry that makes a direct digital connection to iPad and iOS devices* and is certified by Apple's MFi (Made for iOS) program.

DC power charges iPad
In audio, adequate power is essential for excellent sound quality. With a direct digital connection and an external power source, ONE, Duet and Quartet are able to charge your iPad while you record so your work will not be interrupted.

Apogee Maestro Software

Advanced Software Control for Advanced I/O
Access all control functions and settings with Maestro, Apogee's comprehensive software control application. Maestro features a single window interface with quick access to all device and system settings. Select your input type, enable Soft Limit on mic and instrument inputs, and use the mixer for low latency monitoring. Maestro lets you easily configure your Apogee interface to fit your workflow.

Maestro app developed for iPod touch, iPhone and iPadApogee's free Maestro app for iOS brings total hardware control to iPad. Designed to create a seamless transition between Mac and iOS, Maestro's design was customized for each device; iPhone, iPad and Mac, ensuring an intuitive user interface across every platform. The app includes all the same essential functions available on the Mac including low latency monitoring. Maestro can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store on your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad.

Inputs & Outputs - All the I/O You Need

Breakout Cable
Duet's breakout cable includes 2 combination mic/instrument connectors (XLR and 1/4-inch built into a single connector) and 2 balanced 1/4-inch connectors for speakers. The elegant single cable-to-junction design allows for easy cable management and the locking connection to Duet is robust and stylish.

With these 4 outputs it's possible for a DJ to monitor a separate mix in headphones while sending a house mix to the club, a live performer to send a click track to in-ear monitors while sending a backing track to front-of-house, and a recording engineer to send a headphone mix to the performer while dedicating the main outputs to studio monitors.

MIDI
Duet provides a single USB MIDI connection for your CoreMIDI compatible keyboard, synth, or DJ controller. This eliminates the need for an external MIDI interface and promotes an all-in-one music creation solution where Duet and Maestro manage all audio and MIDI. On iPad, Duet's MIDI connection allows both Duet and a keyboard or DJ controller to be connected at the same time to the iPad's single 30-pin dock port.

Please note the breakout box does not enable extra inputs or outputs. Whether you are using the breakout cable or breakout box Duet is capable of 2 channels of analog input (mic, line, or instrument) and 4 channels of analog output (left/right headphones and left/right monitor outputs).

Control - See it, Select it, Dial it in

High-resolution display shows all input and output details
The high resolution OLED screen built into Duet's top is the main control center for Duet, delivering visual feedback for multiple functions including metering, numeric value for input and output levels, input grouping, and phase, muting, phantom power and Soft Limit indication. With this display you know the status of any input and output at any given moment without having to refer to Maestro or your recording software.

Multi-function Controller Knob
Along with its sleek aluminum chassis, the multi-function controller knob is one of the most recognizable features of Duet's design. This central control feature allows you to quickly and easily toggle thru Duet 2's inputs and outputs and set levels while looking at Duet 2's dynamic OLED display.

Configurable Touchpads
Duet 2 also introduces configurable touchpads. The 2 touchpads, located on either side of the encoder knob, allow you to quickly access output functions such as Mute Outputs, Dim Outputs, Sum to Mono or Toggle Headphone Source. Each are assignable using a drop-down menu within Apogee's Maestro 2. This unique feature allows you to select the function you want and access it directly from Duet 2 without having to look at software.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Clear, High Quality Sound"

Overall:
I went from a Fast Track Pro to the Apogee Duet. The sound immediately became noticeably clearer. I am very impressed with the build, and acoustic quality of the Duet. As far as the mobility... it can fit in any travel bag. Two words to best describe it is, quality and simplicity. I'm purchasing another one

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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